Category: gis

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning(ML) are one of those buzzwords that became really popular in recent years. How much hype vs. substance is behind them? Are they practical? How can you use them to solve your specific GIS problems?

Those were just a few questions that had in mind and wanted to answer.

Fortunately, I found devlopmentSEED which specialise in using Machine Learning to solve important problems and ask them to help me out.

I had privilege to talk to Drew who works there and he was eager to answer all of my questions:)

If you’re interested in AI/ML and especially how you can use it in your GIS work, this interview is a great way to start!

00:00 Short intro: what’s this interview is all about?

00:53 How Developmentseed makes Machine Learning more accessible for everyone?

02:06 What’s Machine Learning anyway and how it relates to Artificial Intelligence and GIS?

03:50 How much data do you need to make Machine Learning practical?

05:29 What we can do with Machine Learning that we can’t actually do without it? Drew tells a story about how ML helped mappers with mapping Energy infrastructure in developing countries.

So, this kind of grouping is a little bit different since we’re grouping
values using keys. Here we don’t care about the order of values. As long
as you define your keys and corresponding values to those keys you’re golden:)

Data is in the center of every GIS system, so when you know how to control it it’s like having GIS super powers. Let’s see what does that actually mean.

What’s control anyway?

First, let’s clarify what does it mean to have control over data. In think that in the context of GIS it means that you have ability to:

access it, wherever it is located

filter it, get exactly what you need

change it, mold it as you wish

show it, present it in a way that it will be useful and understood

Notice that no matter if you make a map for a local county or create a cool one for New York Times you have to go through all four steps.

The specific tools might change,but I don’t think that this model will change that much over time. You can see that there are some tools that simplify some steps or merge them (like some web apps).To stay in control we have to keep them in mind.

If you can do all four you have some basic control. You can gain more control by learning at least one different way to do any of them.

It’s even better if you can learn a way to do it faster or better (whatever the specific definition might be)

Why bother?

Well, because things are changing.Sometimes faster and sometimes slower.

And if you know what gives you more control you can prepare yourself for a change.

Loosing control sucks.

So, how to keep it?

Have your eyes and ears open. Focus. Learn at least one different way of doing each step every two months. Try new things. Experiment.

But I…

I know.You don’t have time or maybe you don’t think that some tools are for you. Well, keep it small and simple. Get into habit of learning things. After a while it will be easier to just pick something up and play with it.

The Ultimate Control is…

when you realize that it’s all within your reach. It might take some time,but it’s doable. It’s being flexible when looking at problems. Looking at “new” as opportunity not a threat.